Former Ballon D’or winner to spend half of the season on the bench… once again.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho believes Kaka can still be a success with the club, but the chances he is about to get are limited.

Big things were expected of the Brazilian forward when he made the switch from Milan in 2009, but injuries and loss of form have left Kaka a peripheral player in the Madrid squad.

He was linked with a return to Milan over the northern summer, a move which failed to materialise, while the arrival of Luka Modric from Tottenham Hotspur has further reduced Kaka’s chances of winning a place in the side.

Yet coach insists the 30-year-old still has a part to play for the Primera Division champion and should not give up hope.

“What has happened to Kaka has happened before to many great players – stars who, for one reason or another, were not able to maintain the same level at new clubs,” he told AS.”Obviously football is not mathematics and players are not robots. Kaka arrived with physical issues and did not play regularly in his first two seasons. Last year he had very, very good periods and did good things for us.”

However, the 30-year old Brazilian star would have limited chances to feature this season.

“His situation is not easy as we have other options, but he has accepted the challenge,” Mourinho said. “He is training well. When we need to use him we will use him and try to get the best out of him. When that moment comes, Kaka will respond and help Madrid.”